(West Covina) – The East took the lead for the first time in the third quarter and then had to rally again to beat the West 24-13 Friday night in the 35th Annual Hall of Fame Game at West Covina High School.
Michael Gonzalez of Bishop Amat made the biggest play of the game intercepting a Charles Ontiveros pass and returning it 60 yards for a touchdown to give the East its first lead at 10-7 with 7:42 left in the third quarter. The West answered quickly on a 62 yard bomb from Arroyo’s Nathan Coto to Jeremy Franco of Gabrielino to jump back in front. But the East closed it out with a 20-yard touchown pass from Frankie Palmer (La Serna) to Chino’s Malik Demby late in the third and a six-yard TD romp in the fourth by Bonita’s Jake Payton.
The victory didn’t come easy but it was the seventh straight win for the East in the Hall of Fame game.
Chino’s Malik Demby hauls in the TD
***The game was scoreless until 1:17 left in the first half when San Marino’s Andrew Ferraco scored on a six-yard run.
***The East scored on their last possession of the half when Cal’s Eric Amezquita booted a 24 yard field goal as time expired.
***Amezquita, who was kicking 50 yarders in pre game warmups, missed a 35 yard attempt in the first quarter when the snap was bad.
***Palmer completed 11 of 15 for 107 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 52 yards. Xavier Beltran of Diamond Ranch also took a few snaps for the East.
***John Brown (Muir) fumbled on a kick off return and the East recovered but he got some redemption when he recovered an East fumble on the ensuing series. Neither team cashed in on the turnovers.
***Jake Payton had a camera on his helmet during pregame warmups. The Bonita running back led the East in rushing with 13 carries for 78 yards and a score. Joseph Mayorga ran for 69 yards.
***Matthew Rosales of La Serna had seven catches for 60 yards.
***Bryce Harvey of La Salle was ejected from the game after an altercation on the Gonzalez interception return for a score. A minor scuffle broke out but it was quickly contained by the officials. Harvey had hauled in two passes for 59 yards.
***Mark Pachorek of Arcadia had five catches for 87 yards for the West while Coto completed four of five passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. Ferraco threw for 91 yards.
***The West punted with just over two minutes left in the game, down 24-13.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40
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